Teams repping the Lowco were far-flung in Week 3, with only four of the 14 games on the slate taking place in our stomping grounds, but we tracked down all the vital information and put it right here in Lowco First Down.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
SCHSL
Philip Simmons 31, Beaufort 20
The Iron Horses jumped out to a 21-0 lead just seven minutes into the game, and the Eagles couldn’t recover on the road, especially after quarterback Samari Bonds left with an ankle injury and did not play the second half. Bonds connected with Caleb Stephan for a 32-yard TD to pull Beaufort within 24-12 at halftime, but the Eagles couldn’t close the gap. Xavier Tobias had a first-half rushing touchdown for Beaufort, and Anthony Kahler came on in relief of Bonds and threw a 29-yard TD pass to Qualeek Isnar.
Up next: Beaufort (0-3) vs. Goose Creek on Friday
Hilton Head 45, Aiken 0
Jeremiah Walters was 12-of-13 for 243 yards and a touchdown pass to Carson Haines, who had six grabs for 159 yards and added a rushing touchdown, and the Seahawks scored three touchdowns on defense and special teams in their second shutout of the season. Troy Timko had a big game on the ground with 92 yards and two TDs on 12 carries, and Thaddeus Czarnecki added 69 yards from scrimmage and a 35-yard punt return touchdown. Caleb Spangler had eight tackles, a sack and a blocked punt that resulted in a Jason Braymiller touchdown, and Tristan Simmons had 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble for Hilton Head.
Up next: Hilton Head (2-1) at Hardeeville on Friday
May River 41, Lake City 6
An early defensive touchdown from the Panthers stunned the Sharks on senior night, but it was all May River from that point, as Sean Mitchell and Andrew Johnson led a powerful ground attack and Zavier Polite was the biggest disruptor on a dominant defense. Tanner Macy scored three rushing TDs, but Mitchell racked up 150 yards and a TD on 17 carries and Johnson added 114 yards and a score on 14 totes. Gage Duncan also found the end zone for the Sharks, while Polite had three tackles for loss and two sacks among his five tackles.
Up next: May River (3-0) vs. Brookland-Cayce on Friday
Savannah Country Day 44, Bluffton 16
The Bobcats put themselves in a 21-0 hole on the road and couldn’t dig out, as the offense sputtered on a rainy night in Savannah. Aedan McCarthy was 21-of-42 for 233 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, and the Bobcats were limited to eight rushing yards on nine attempts as they played from behind all night. Tyler Wolfe had a big night with four catches for 115 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown grab from Nate Ulmer on a trick play, and Kordell Holley hauled in a TD pass from McCarthy. Isaiah Bastion had a monster night on defense for Bluffton with 12 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Up next: Bluffton (2-1) vs. Hampton Co. on Friday
Lower Richland 46, Colleton Co. 20
The Cougars had no answer for Jaylin Simmons, who rolled up 172 yards and three TDs on the ground and staked the Diamond Hornets to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Colleton County pulled within 21-12 at halftime, but the Cougars couldn’t hold down Lower Richland’s offense in the second half.
Up next: Colleton Co. (0-3) at Stall on Friday
Keenan 26, Battery Creek 0
The Dolphins didn’t get going on offense, and the defense couldn’t stop a balanced Raiders attack. Hunter O’Neal rushed for 188 yards and two TDs, and Desmond Washington was 18-of-29 for 225 yards and two scores to lead Keenan to the win at home, with Darius Dixon dominating on defense for the Raiders.
Up next: Battery Creek (1-2) at Bethune-Bowman on Friday
Hampton Co. 14, Silver Bluff 7
The top-ranked Hurricanes mustered just enough on offense and got the job done on defense in a tough matchup on the road. Chris Terry rushed for 42 yards and a TD on seven carries and went 3-for-6 for 46 yards with an interception and a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Singletary, who added 60 yards on the ground.
Up next: Hampton Co. (3-0) at Bluffton on Friday
Whale Branch 35, Ridgeland 12
Jonathan Kelley took the opening kickoff back for a TD, and the Warriors’ special teams continued to thrive as Dontray Lewis and Ardhi Walker both pounced on Jaguars mistakes in the kicking game for touchdowns en route to a quick 21-0 lead. Jermon Bowers and Alonzo Allen scored rushing TDs for the only offensive scores for Whale Branch, as Ridgeland’s Denardo Henry (11 tackles) and Cordell Mclain (12 tackles) did their part in the loss. Wenson Smith had 17 carries for 191 yards and a 76-yard TD run for the Jaguars, and Taishaun Smith and Semaj Hicks hooked up for a 40-yard TD pass. — Aedyn Pawlyk
Up next: Whale Branch vs. Woodland on Friday
East Clarendon 36, Hardeeville 7
A 75-yard kickoff return touchdown from Dylan Pryor pulled the Hurricanes within 14-7 at halftime, but they couldn’t keep up with the Wolverines on the road. East Clarendon’s ground game wore down the Hurricanes in the second half, and the Wolverines pulled away to stay unbeaten.
Up next: Hardeeville (1-2) vs. Hilton Head on Friday
SCISA
Bethesda Academy 12, John Paul II 3
Manny Hurtado gave the Golden Warriors a 3-0 halftime lead with a 43-yard field goal, but JPII couldn’t muster any points after the break, and the game turned in Bethesda’s favor early in the fourth quarter. The Blazers picked off an Alan Wolf pass on the 1-yard line to deny a potential go-ahead score, and an eye-popping 90-yard touchdown run a few plays later sealed the outcome.
Up next: John Paul II (0-4) vs. HHCA on Friday
Beaufort Academy 25, Patrick Henry 23
Nych Underwood and Dietrich Shuford dominated on the ground again for BA, and Mikell Tucker Mathis matched them for PHA, but it was Grady Lamm’s 32-yard field goal that proved to be the difference in a donnybrook on Lady’s Island. Underwood rushed for 172 yards and two TDs, and Dietrich Shuford was 11-for-16 for 174 yards and added 164 yards on the ground, while Nic Shuford snagged five passes for 77 yards and added a 19-yard touchdown run. Nathan Chavarria Byrne had nine tackles and recovered two fumbles for BA, and Lamm added eight tackles and a fumble recovery in addition to two field-flipping punts and his clutch kick. Mathis rushed for 127 yards and a TD, passed for 73 yards and a score, and racked up 20 tackles to lead PHA.
Up next: BA (3-1) vs. Lee Academy, PHA (2-1) vs. Dorchester Academy on Friday
Thomas Heyward 39, Orangeburg Prep 0
Nic Robinson led the way with 118 yards and three TDs on 15 carries while also snagging a 9-yard TD pass from Tony O’Banner, who was 6-of-9 for 58 yards and a TD and rushed for 114 yards and two TDs on 15 attempts. It was 33-0 at halftime, and Mitchell White (11 tackles, 3 TFL) and Beau Pinckney (10 tackles, TFL) led the defense to a second consecutive shutout. — Aedyn Pawlyk
Up next: THA (3-0) vs. Williamsburg Academy on Friday
Colleton Prep 25, Andrew Jackson Academy 8
Walker Bryan had a big night on both sides of the ball, going over 100 yards rushing with two TDs and finishing with 146 yards from scrimmage, along with seven tackles on defense, to lead the War Hawks to a bounce-back win. Cale Owens was 5-of-11 for 63 yards and added 76 yards and a TD on 12 carries. Cayson Warner helped anchor the defense for CPA with seven tackles.
Up next: Colleton Prep (3-1, 1-1) vs. Calhoun Academy on Friday
Cathedral Academy 58, Cross Schools 8
The Generals continued their dominant start to the season by handing the Stingrays another lopsided defeat. Cathedral has outscored its first four opponents 231-38, while Cross has been outpaced 170-14 through its first three contests and faces another undefeated team on Friday.
Up next: Cross Schools (0-3) at Holly Hill Academy on Friday